Test strip package, container and manufacturing method for test strip package

ABSTRACT

The present invention is to present a test strip package that has less potential for accommodating a test strip and a desiccant agent at a location different from their proper location originally determined. The test strip package comprising: a test strip for detecting an analyte contained in a sample; a desiccant agent; and a container comprising a first room for housing the test strip, a second room for housing the desiccant agent and a cover for sealing the first and second rooms, the second room being communicated with the first room.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a test strip package, a container and amanufacturing method for a test strip package.

BACKGROUND

In order to perform detection of an analyte in a sample (for example,pathogenic virus, protein, pharmacological material or the like), andjudgment of properties of the sample (for example, hydrogen ionconcentration or the like), a test strip is used.

Normally, a test strip has detection zone where exist substances whichcause an antigen-antibody reaction with an analyte or substances whichchange their color upon contact with the analyte, or the like. When thedetection zone makes contact with a sample, color or the like of thedetection zone is changed, thereby allowing for detection of the analyteand judgment of properties of the sample.

Since substances existing at the detection zone of the test strip maychange their nature due to humidity or the like, the test strip ispacked in a package in bag-shape together with desiccant agents inplate-shape.

When taking out the test strip accommodated in the package in bag-shape,a designated portion of the package is cleaved to take out the teststrip accommodated inside the package. Since the package accommodatesthe test strip at the same place of desiccant agent, it is necessary toaccommodate the desiccant agent in plate-shape so that the desiccantagent may not come in contact with the detection zone of the test stripor the like, in packaging step of the test strip.

However, in the packaging step, if a test strip and desiccant agent inplate-shape are packed so as to allow for accidental contact of thedesiccant agent with detection zone or the like of the test strip, thedetection zone will be damaged, thereby giving influences on detectionof the analyte.

The present invention has been developed in view of the above aspectsand is to present a test strip package that has less potential foraccommodating a test strip and a desiccant agent at a location differentfrom their proper location originally determined.

A first aspect of the present invention is a test strip packagecomprising: a test strip for detecting an analyte contained in a sample;a desiccant agent; and a container comprising a first room for housingthe test strip, a second room for housing the desiccant agent and acover for sealing the first and second rooms, the second room beingcommunicated with the first room.

A second aspect of the present invention is a container for housing atest strip and a desiccant agent, comprising: a first room for housingthe test strip; and a second room for housing the desiccant agent and iscommunicated with the first room.

A third aspect of the present invention is a manufacturing method for atest strip package comprising steps of: providing a container assemblycomprising a plurality of containers, wherein each container has a firstroom for housing a test strip and a second room for housing a desiccantagent; putting the test strip in each of the first rooms of thecontainer assembly and the desiccant agent in each of the second roomsof the container assembly; and sealing the first and the second rooms ofthe container assembly so as to form a test strip package assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1(a) is a plan view showing construction of a test strip packageaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1(b) is afront view showing construction of the test strip package according tothe first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1(c) is aleft-side elevation showing construction of the test strip packageaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing construction of the test strip packageaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention, illustratinga state before a cover 7 is heat-sealed;

FIG. 3 is a front view showing construction of a test strip to beaccommodated in a test strip package according to the first embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing manufacturing step of the test strippackage according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front view used for explanation of usage of the test strippackage according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a front view showing construction of the test strip packageaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a front view showing construction of the test strip packageaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a front view used for explanation of usage of the test strippackage according to the third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a front view used for explanation of usage of the test strippackage according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Referring to drawings, embodiments of the present invention will beexplained hereinafter. Drawings are used for convenience ofexplanations, and the scope of the present invention is not limited toembodiments shown in the drawings.

1. First Embodiment

FIG. 1(a) is a plan view showing construction of a test strip packageaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1(b) is afront view showing construction of the test strip package according tothe first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1(c) is aleft-side elevation showing construction of the test strip packageaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is aplan view corresponding to FIG. 1(a) and shows a state before a cover 7is heat-sealed.

In the first embodiment, a test strip package for accommodating a teststrip for immunochromatography used for detection of an analyte in asample utilizing an antigen-antibody reaction will be explained.Chromatography is a method for separating and analyzing a substanceutilizing a difference of its mobility in a carrier. Particularly, amethod for detecting a substance utilizing antigen-antibody reaction isreferred to as immunochromatography.

The test strip package according to the present embodiment comprises atest strip 1 for detecting an analyte in a sample, a desiccant agent 3,a container 5 for accommodating the test strip 1 and the desiccant agent3, and a cover 7. The container 5 has a first room 9 for accommodatingthe test strip 1 and a second room 11 for accommodating the desiccantagent 3. The cover 7 seals off the first room 9 and the second room 11.The first room 9 and the second room 11 are communicated with each othervia a communication portion 15, and it is possible for the desiccantagent 3 accommodated in the second room 11 to absorb moistures in thefirst room 9.

In this way, according to the present embodiment, the test strip 1 andthe desiccant agent 3 are accommodated in the first room 9 and thesecond room 11 of the container 5, respectively. Therefore, a place foraccommodating the test strip 1 and a place for accommodating thedesiccant agent 3 are definitely distinguished, and a possibility thatthe test strip 1 and the desiccant agent 3 are accommodated at alocation other than their proper location originally determined islowered, and the test strip 1 and the desiccant agent 3 are capable ofbeing accommodated properly.

The container 5 further comprises a partition portion 13 which limits amovement of the desiccant agent 3 to the first room 9 and a movement ofthe test strip 1 to the second room 11.

The container 5 has a peripheral portion 17 and the cover 7 isheat-sealed to the peripheral portion 17. With this configuration, thecover 7 can be heat-sealed easily to the container 5. Dotted line inFIG. 1(a) shows an attached portion 18.

The test strip 1 has a sample contacting portion 19 at one end 1 athereof and is accommodated in the first room 9 so that the samplecontacting portion 19 may be positioned on the second room 11 side ofthe first room 9. A peeling start portion 21 of the cover 7 is arrangedat a position corresponding to other end 1 b side (i.e., first room 9side of the container 5) of the test strip 1. With this configuration,the cover 7 is being peeled from the peeling start portion 21 of thecover 7 and this prevents the sample contacting portion 19 of the teststrip 1 from being touched by fingers. When cleaving conventionalpackage to take out a test strip from the package, it is frequentlycaught by test strip accommodated inside, and unsealing is not performedsatisfactorily, and the test strip is hardly taken out. However, withsaid configuration, a package can be unsealed with ease due to that thepeeling start portion 21 is provided to the cover 7, thereby resultingin ease of taking out of the test strip 1.

The attached portion 18 comprises a first attached portion 18 a and asecond attached portion 18 b. The first attached portion 18 a is formedwidely at one end 1 a side of the test strip 1, as illustrated by twodotted lines in FIG. 1(a). The second attached portion 18 b is formednarrowly at other end 1 b side of the test strip 1 as illustrated by onedotted line in FIG. 1(a). The cover 7 is heat-sealed at the firstattached portion 18 a more strongly than the second attached portion 18b. Therefore, the cover 7 is capable of being peeled substantially atthe second attached portion 18 b only. With this configuration, whentaking out the test strip 1 from the container 5, it is possible toprevent such an occasion that the desiccant agent 3 comes out from thepackage. Further, touching the sample contacting portion 19 of the teststrip 1 with fingers can be prevented positively.

To the test strip 1 are pasted a first and a second protection seals 23,25. An arrow is drawn on the first protection seal 23 showing adirection of the sample contacting portion 19.

Now, detailed construction of the test strip 1 will be explainedhereafter using FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a front view showing construction of atest strip 1.

The test strip 1 comprises a sample contacting member 29 made of unwovencloth (rayon), a label holding member 31 made of unwoven cloth (glassfiber), a chromatography membrane 33 composed of madreporic body made ofnitrocellulose, and an absorption member 35 composed of unwoven cloth(cellulose), which are mounted on a substrate 27 composed of a plasticplate having an adhesion layer on the surface thereof. The samplecontacting member 29 functions as a sample contacting portion which isimmersed into a sample. The label holding member 31 is disposed incontact with the sample contacting member 29 and functions as a labelholding portion for holding a labeling substance that causes anantigen-antibody reaction with an analyte in the sample. The samplecontacting member 29 is disposed so as to cover the label holding member31 and disposed in contact with the chromatography membrane 33. Thelabel holding member 31 is disposed being isolated from thechromatography membrane 33. The chromatography membrane 33 has adetection zone to which is fixed an immobilizing material which causesan antigen-antibody reaction with an analyte. The absorption member 35is disposed so as to contact with the chromatography membrane 33. Theabsorption member 35 absorbs samples which passed through the detectionzone. The first and second protection seals 23, 25 cover respectivelythe sample contacting member 29 and the absorption member 35.

To the chromatography membrane 33 are formed, in the order fromupstream, a first detection zone A, a second detection zone B and acontrol zone C in line-shape. A first labeling substance, a secondlabeling substance and control labeling substance are held to the labelholding member 31. To the first detection zone A, second detection zoneB and control zone C are immobilized, as the immobilizing material, antiinfluenza A virus antibody, anti influenza B virus antibody (hereinafterreferred to respectively as “Anti-Flu A antibody”, “Anti-Flu Bantibody”), and biotin, respectively. The first labeling substance andsecond labeling substance are anti-Flu A antibody and anti-Flu Bantibody being labeled by blue latex particles, respectively, and thecontrol labeling substance is avidin that is labeled by red latexparticles. The anti-Flu A antibody and anti-Flu B antibody bind, byantigen-antibody reaction, respectively to influenza A virus that is thefirst analyte and to influenza B virus that is the second analyte(hereafter referred to respectively as “Flu A virus”, “Flu B virus”).

When a sample contains Flu A virus, labeled anti-Flu A antibody, that ispresent in the label holding member 31, recognizes a specific site ofFlu A virus and forms a complex by binding thereto by antigen-antibodyreaction. Next, anti-Flu A antibody, that is present in thechromatography membrane 33, recognizes another site of Flu A virus andarrests a complex. When a complex is arrested, a blue line appears tothe first detection zone A, and Flu A virus is detected visually.

Further, although avidin is not arrested by anti-Flu A antibody,anti-Flu B antibody which are present in the chromatography membrane 33,it specifically binds to biotin, and therefore, is arrested by biotinimmobilized to the control zone C. When avidin is arrested, a red lineappears to the control zone C, and it is visually confirmed that avidinreached the control zone C. Since the control zone C is provideddownstream of the first detection zone A and second detection zone B, itis confirmed that, by confirming a red line, the sample passed throughthe first detection zone A and second detection zone B.

Next, the desiccant agent 3 will be explained. The desiccant agent 3 canbe produced by kneading a resin material and a hygroscopic material, andby molding it to a block shape such as cylindrical column or rectangularcolumn. For resin materials, polystyrene, PP (polypropylene), PVC (vinylchloride), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PC (polycarbonate), PE(polyethylene), nylon or the like (preferably thermoplastic) may beused. For hygroscopic materials, silica gel, calcium chloride, molecularsieve, silica dioxide, alumina, zeolite or the like may be used.

Next, referring to FIG. 4, a method for manufacturing a test strippackage (hereafter referred also to as “package”) will be explained.FIG. 4 is a plan view showing manufacturing step of the packageaccording to the present embodiment.

First, as shown in FIG. 4, a container assembly 36 in which a pluralityof containers 5 are connected consecutively is produced. The containerassembly 36 can be produced by heating a material in sheet-form andmolding (drawing molding) it. For materials in sheet-form, those whichare heat-sealable are preferred. For materials in sheet-form, thosewhich hardly allow moisture to pass through are preferred. For materialsin sheet-form, those having a first resin layer, aluminum layer and asecond resin layer being laminated may be used. The first resin layerand second resin layer may be formed by resin materials (preferablythermoplastic) such as polystyrene, PP (polypropylene), PVC (vinylchloride), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PC (polycarbonate), PE(polyethylene), nylon or the like. A material in sheet-form may besingle layer of previously-mentioned resin materials or aluminum.Further, it is possible to produce the container assembly 36 by pouringmolten resin material into a die for molding (e.g., injection molding).Further, the container assembly 36 may be molded by pressing a metalmaterial (e.g., aluminum) in sheet-form using a die. Next, the teststrip 1 is put in each of the first room 9 of the container assembly 36,and the desiccant agent 3 is put in each of the second room 11.

Further, each of the first room 9 and each of the second room 11 aresealed by the cover 7 which has a size substantially equivalent to thatof the container assembly 36. By cutting the cover 7 and containerassembly 36 at a position corresponding to dotted line portion in FIG.4, a plurality of packages can be obtained. Alternatively, a packageassembly, in which a plurality of packages before cutting are connectedconsecutively, may be provided as it is. In this case, the packageassembly is preferably produced so that a user of the test strip 1 couldseparate one package from the package assembly at the positioncorresponding to dotted line portion of the container assembly 36 shownin FIG. 4. Specifically, such a package assembly can be produced using,for example, a container assembly 36 in which dotted line portion shownin FIG. 4 is molded to be thinner than other portion or a containerassembly 36 having a perforated line at dotted line portion. Besides,the cover 7 covering the container assembly 36 is preferably composed tobe separated easily at dotted line portion by providing a cut line or aperforated line at the position corresponding to dotted line portionshown in FIG. 4. With this consideration, one package can be separatedfrom the package assembly more easily.

When packages are mass produced in efficient fashion, above-mentionedmethod of manufacturing is particularly preferable.

With conventional method, a step for accommodating a test strip anddesiccant agent in a package, and a step for sealing the package arecarried out in series for every package. According to the method ofmanufacturing of the present embodiment, a plurality of packages can beproduced in efficient fashion, and therefore, production efficiency isimproved and manufacturing costs are reduced.

Furthermore, by providing a certain degree of rigidity to the container5 or container assembly 36, it is possible to prevent the test strip 1accommodated inside from being curved due to external force.

The first room 9 and second room 11 of the container 5 have a sizecapable of accommodating the test strip 1 and desiccant agent 3,respectively. A difference in the length between the first room 9 andthe test strip 1 is preferably not less than 1 cm (more preferably 2cm). In this case, by tilting the container 5 so that one end 1 a of thetest strip 1 may be located lower, a clearance is generated to other end1 b side of the test strip 1, thereby allowing easy taking-out of thetest strip 1. Besides, said difference in the length is preferably lessthan 4 cm (more preferably 3 cm) to prevent the container 5 frombecoming excessively long.

The partition portion 13 is provided between the first room 9 and secondroom 11 to limit a movement of the desiccant agent 3 into the first room9 and a movement of the test strip 1 into the second room 11. With thisconfiguration, contact of the test strip 1 with the desiccant agent 3could be avoided. The partition portion 13 may be formed so that sidewall of the container 5 is protruded towards inside of the container 5,or formed so that bottom wall of the container 5 is protruded towardsinside of the container 5. The peripheral portion 17 may be formed to beintegrated with the first room 9 and second room 11 (portion formingthese members is referred to as “accommodation container body”), orseparate member that is used as the peripheral portion 17 may beattached to the accommodation container body after the accommodationcontainer body is formed.

Next, the cover 7 will be explained. For the cover 7, materials insheet-form similar to those as used for the container 5 may be used.Composition and thickness of the material in sheet-form may be same asor different from those of the container 5. The cover 7 may beheat-sealed to the container 5, or adhered to the container 5 by usingadhesive agent. The attached portion 18 is formed by heat-sealing oradhesion. The attached portion 18 may have the first attached portion 18a and second attached portion 18 b each having different heat-sealingstrength or whole heat-sealing strength may be same. Further, the firstattached portion 18 a may be disposed at a place where the cover 7covers the sample contacting portion 19 of the test strip 1 (one end 1 aof test strip 1 by another expression), or may be disposed at a placewhere the cover 7 covers the second room 11. In another embodiment,strength of the first attached portion 18 a may be improved by, whenforming the first attached portion 18 a, increasing a temperature, atime or a pressure of the heat-sealing, or using an adhesive agentdeveloping higher adhesive strength. In this case, width of the firstattached portion 18 a and second attached portion 18 b may be designedto be identical. The first attached portion 18 a may be formed byheat-sealing and the second attached portion 18 b may be formed byadhesion, or vice versa.

Next, one example of usage of the test strip package according to thepresent embodiment will be explained.

First, the peeling start portion 21 of the cover 7 is grasped and thesecond attached portion 18 b is peeled off. By these manipulations, asshown in FIG. 5, the cover 7 is peeled off at the second attachedportion 18 b, and it is now possible to take out the test strip 1 fromthe container 5 by grasping other end 1 b side of the test strip 1. Onthis occasion, since the cover 7 is not being peeled off at one end 1 aside of the test strip 1, there is no possibility that one touchesaccidentally the sample contacting portion 19 of the test strip 1.Further, since a portion covering the second room 11 of the cover 7 isnot peeled off, the desiccant agent 3 would not come out when taking outthe test strip 1 from the container 5. The test strip 1 taken out isinserted into a test container (not shown), into which is filled asample, so that the sample contacting portion 19 may be immersed intothe sample. It is then left for approximately 10 to 20 min and is usedto check the presence or absence of an analyte.

Further, another embodiment of the present invention will be explainedhereinafter.

Analytes are not limited specifically, and cells (for example, bacteria,protists, fungi or the like), viruses, proteins, polysaccharides, drugs(for example, narcotics, psychostimulant or the like), or the like arementioned. For example, in addition to foregoing influenza virus,parainfluenza viruses, RS viruses, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, rotavirus,calicivirus, coronavirus, adenovirus, enterovirus, herpesvirus, humanimmunodeficiency virus, hepatitis virus, pathogenic virus of severeacute respiratory syndrome, coli bacillus, Staphylococcus aureus,Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, mararia parasite,others, pathogenic organisms for various disorders such as alimentarydiseases, central nervous system diseases, hemorrhagic fever or thelike, metabolic products thereof, carcinoembryonic antigen, tumormarkers such as Cyfra or the like, hormone, oxypurine, glucose,bilirubin, uric acid, urobilinogen, leukocytes, benzodiazepines, cocainesystem narcotics, morphine system narcotics, cannabis, tricyclicantidepressant drug, barbituric acids, phencyclidines or the like areexemplified.

The substrate 27 is to dispose thereon the foregoing members such assample contacting member 29 and label holding member 31 or the like, andvarious materials such as papers or glasses may be used in addition toplastics. The sample contacting member 29 may be formed by variousmaterials such as glass fiber or cellulose fiber in addition to rayon.The label holding member 31 may be formed by various materials such ascellulose fiber or the like in addition to glass fiber. Thechromatography membrane 33 may be formed by various materials such asnylon (e.g. modified nylon in which is introduced amino group that mayhave carboxyl group or alkyl group as the substitution group),polyvinylidene-difluoride (PVDF), cellulose acetate or the like, inaddition to cellulose nitrate. The absorption member 35 may be formed byvarious materials such as glass fiber or the like in addition tocellulose. For the sample contacting member 29, the label holding member31, the chromatography membrane 33 and the absorption member 35,materials with various structures which are capable of developing asample by capillary phenomenon may be used in addition to unwoven clothor madreporic body. Further, a developing member composed of rayon,glass fiber or cellulose fiber may be provided between the label holdingmember 31 and the chromatography membrane 33. With this configuration,elution of labeling substance in the label holding member 31 isaccelerated, thereby allowing prompt measurements.

The chromatography membrane 33 may include only one detection zone ormore than two depending on types of the analyte. Further, thechromatography membrane 33 may not include control zone. The detectionzone and the control zone may not be in line-shape and may be formed,for example, to circular form or rectangular form. The label holdingmember 31 may hold only one type of labeling substance or more than twotypes. Further, the label holding member 31 may not hold labelingsubstance for control purpose. The labeling substance may be labeled bylatex particles other than blue and red, metal colloid such as gold, dyemolecule or the like. In a case more than two labeling substances areused, each labeling substance may be labeled by different colors or bythe same color. Further, the labeling substance and the labelingsubstance for control purpose may be labeled by colors different eachother or by the same color.

Immobilization substances and labeling substances are not limited aslong as they are able to bind specifically to above-mentioned analytes.For example, various antibodies and antigens may be used. In otherwords, when an analyte is an antigen, antibodies which cause anantigen-antibody reaction with this antigen may be used forimmobilization substances and labeling substances; when an analyte is asantibody, antigens which cause an antigen-antibody reaction with thisantibody, or antibodies which cause an antigen-antibody reaction withthe antibody that is an analyte, may be used for immobilizationsubstances and labeling substances. Besides, when detecting saccharideor glycoprotein, lectin may be used for immobilization substances andlabeling substances.

An immobilization substance at the control zone may be avidin and alabeling substance for control purpose may be biotin. Further, animmobilization substance at the control zone and a labeling substancefor control purpose may be other than the combination of biotin andavidin. For example, a combination that causes binding byantigen-antibody reaction may be used. For example, an antigen is usedfor labeling substance for control purpose and an antibody that causesan antigen-antibody reaction with this antigen is used forimmobilization substance of control zone. The reverse of thiscombination may be used. For labeling substances for control, thosewhich do not cause an antigen-antibody reaction with analyte andimmobilization substance of detection zone are used.

Meanwhile, composition of the test strip 1 is not limited as long as itis capable of detecting an analyte in the sample.

The container according to the present embodiment may accommodate teststrip for chromatography which does not use antigen-antibody reactionand test strip which does not use chromatography, but not test strip forimmunochromatography as used in the first embodiment, together withdesiccant agent.

For other concrete examples of the test strip, urine test paper, waterquality inspection paper, formaldehyde measurement paper, humidityindicator card, pH-test paper, litmus paper or the like are mentioned.

For example, by using a urine test paper, urinary glucose, oxypurine,protein (e.g., urinary albumin) or the like can be detectedquantitatively or qualitatively. When detecting urinary glucose, it ispossible to cause the detection zone of chromatography membrane of testpaper to hold enzymes (glucose oxidase, peroxidase or the like) andchromogen. When detecting urinary protein, it is possible to cause thedetection zone to hold buffering agent and pH indicator (e.g.,tetrabromo phenol blue or the like).

By using water quality inspection paper, it is possible to detect pH,hardness, chlorine, nitrite-nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen,ammonium-nitrogen, phosphoric ion, metallic ion (e.g., copper ion,ferric ion or the like) or the like of a sample (e.g., well water, tapwater, river water or the like).

By using formaldehyde measurement paper, it is possible to detectformaldehyde generated from building materials or adhesive agents.

By using humidity indicator card, it is possible to detect humidity of asample (gaseous matter).

By using litmus paper, it is possible to make judgment if a sample isacid, neutral or alkali.

2. Second Embodiment

FIG. 6 is a front view showing construction of the test strip packageaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention.

With the test strip package according to the present embodiment, depthof the second room 11 is deeper than depth of the first room 9. Thefirst room 9 has an elongated shape and one end thereof is communicatedwith the second room 11. Further, a take-out portion 37 is provided atother end of the first room 9. A placing portion 39 for placing the teststrip 1 is provided between one end and other end of the first room 9. Adepth of the take-out portion 37 is deeper than the placing portion 39.The depth of the first room 9 denotes a depth at a portion where thetest strip 1 is placed.

According to the present embodiment, a movement of the desiccant agent 3to the first room 9 is prevented by a step provided between the firstroom 9 and the second room 11. Further, when the test strip 1 movestowards the second room 11, the test strip 1 collides with the desiccantagent 3 and is unable to proceed further, and consequently, a movementof the test strip 1 to the second room 11 is also prevented. A partitionportion between the first room 9 and the second room 11 may be providedor may not be provided. Besides, since the first room 9 can beconfigured to be comparatively shallower, turning of the test strip 1 inthe first room 9 can be prevented.

Further, by inserting a finger into the take-out portion 37 and raisingthe test strip 1 from underneath, it is possible to take out the teststrip 1 easily from the container 5. To allow easy insertion of thefinger under the substrate of the test strip 1, a length of the take-outportion 37 is preferably not less than 1.5 cm (more preferably 2 cm).Besides, to prevent the container 5 from becoming too long, the lengthof the take-out portion 37 is preferably not more than 4 cm (morepreferably 3 cm).

Details explained in the first embodiment are basically applicable tothe present embodiment.

3. Third Embodiment

FIG. 7 is a front view showing construction of the test strip packageaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention.

With the test strip package according to the present embodiment, anopening of the container 5 and the peripheral portion 17 are provided atthe position where one end 1 a side of the test strip 1 (samplecontacting portion 19 side) is elongated in longitudinal direction. Boththe first room 9 and the second room 11 are faced with an opening of thecontainer 5. The cover 7 is, in a similar fashion as the firstembodiment, heat-sealed to the peripheral portion 17 by the attachedportion 18 composed of the first attached portion 18 a and the secondattached portion 18 b. The first attached portion 18 a is provided at aposition where the cover 7 covers the second room 11. The cover 7 hasthe peeling start portion 21 at the first room 9 side. The container 5according to the present embodiment can be produced from resin materialsshown in the first embodiment by die molding or the like. Detailsexplained in the first embodiment are basically applicable to thepresent embodiment.

Next, one example of usage of the test strip package according to thepresent embodiment will be explained.

First, the peeling start portion 21 of the cover 7 is grasped and thesecond attached portion 18 b is peeled off. By these manipulations, asshown in FIG. 8, the cover 7 is peeled off at the second attachedportion 18 b. Next, as shown in FIG. 9, a test container 43 to which isfilled a sample 41 is prepared, and the container 5 is tilted towardsthe test container 43 so that one end 1 a of the test strip 1 may belocated lower. By these manipulations, the test strip 1 slips out fromthe container 5 and is inserted into the test container 43. The teststrip 1 is left for approximately 10 to 20 min, and is used to check thepresence or absence of an analyte in the sample 41. In this way,according to the present embodiment, it is possible to insert the teststrip 1 into the test container 43 by simply tilting the container 5.Namely, since a test strip can be taken out from the container 5 withouttouching the test strip 1, contamination of the test strip 1 can beprevented.

Meanwhile, “taken out” as used in the specification also includes tomove the test strip 1 from inside to outside of the container 5 bytilting the container 5 or the like, not only to move the test strip 1from inside to outside of the container 5 by grasping the test strip 1by fingers or the like from the container 5.

Various features shown in the foregoing embodiments may be combined eachother. In a case where a plurality of features are involved in oneembodiment, one or more than one features may be picked up appropriatelytherefrom and be employed, alone or in combination, in the test strippackage of the present invention.

The foregoing detailed description and accompanying drawings have beenprovided by way of explanation and illustration, and are not intended tolimit the scope of the appended claims. Many variations in the presentlypreferred embodiments illustrated herein will be obvious to one ofordinary skill in the art, and remain within the scope of the appendedclaims and their equivalents.

1. A test strip package comprising: a test strip for detecting ananalyte contained in a sample; a desiccant agent; and a containercomprising a first room for housing the test strip, a second room forhousing the desiccant agent and a cover for sealing the first and secondrooms, the second room being communicated with the first room.
 2. Thetest strip package of claim 1, wherein the container further comprises acommunication portion arranged between the first room and the secondroom.
 3. The test strip package of claim 1, wherein a depth of thesecond room is deeper than that of the first room.
 4. The test strippackage of claim 1, wherein the first room comprises a placing portionfor placing the test strip and a take-out portion arranged at one endside of the placing portion, and wherein other end of the placingportion is communicated with the second room, and a depth of thetake-out portion is deeper than that of the placing portion.
 5. The teststrip package of claim 1, wherein the container has a peripheral portionand the cover is heat-sealed to the peripheral portion.
 6. The teststrip package of claim 1, wherein the test strip has a sample contactingportion at one end thereof and is accommodated in the first room so thatthe sample contacting portion is positioned on the second room side ofthe first room.
 7. The test strip package of claim 6, wherein the coverhas a peeling start portion for peeling the cover at a positioncorresponding to other end side of the test strip.
 8. The test strippackage of claim 5, wherein one end portion on the second room side ofthe cover is heat-sealed more strongly than other end portion on thefirst room side of the cover.
 9. The test strip package of claim 1,wherein the test strip is a test strip for immunochromatography.
 10. Acontainer for housing a test strip and a desiccant agent, comprising: afirst room for housing the test strip; and a second room for housing thedesiccant agent and is communicated with the first room.
 11. Thecontainer of claim 10, further comprising a communication portionarranged between the first room and the second room.
 12. The containerof claim 10, wherein a depth of the second room is deeper than that ofthe first room.
 13. The container of claim 10, wherein the first roomcomprises a placing portion for placing the test strip and a take-outportion arranged at one end side of the placing portion, and whereinother end of the placing portion is communicated with the second room,and a depth of the take-out portion is deeper than that of the placingportion.
 14. A manufacturing method for a test strip package comprisingsteps of: providing a container assembly comprising a plurality ofcontainers, wherein each container has a first room for housing a teststrip and a second room for housing a desiccant agent; putting the teststrip in each of the first rooms of the container assembly and thedesiccant agent in each of the second rooms of the container assembly;and sealing the first and the second rooms of the container assembly soas to form a test strip package assembly.
 15. The manufacturing methodof claim 14, further comprising a step of separating a test strippackage from the test strip package assembly.
 16. The manufacturingmethod of claim 14, wherein the container assembly is formed allowingseparation of containers one by one.
 17. The manufacturing method ofclaim 14, wherein the container further comprises a communicationportion arranged between the first room and the second room.
 18. Themanufacturing method of claim 14, wherein a depth of the second room isdeeper than that of the first room.
 19. The manufacturing method ofclaim 14, wherein the first room comprises a placing portion for placingthe test strip and a take-out portion arranged at one end side of theplacing portion, and wherein other end of the placing portion iscommunicated with the second room, and a depth of the take-out portionis deeper than that of the placing portion.
 20. The manufacturing methodof claim 14, wherein the container has a peripheral portion and a coveris heat-sealed to the peripheral portion.